The document provides information on the key parts of the viola, including the upper and lower bouts, tailpiece and chin rest, bridge and fine tuners, neck and fingerboard, pegbox and f-holes. It also discusses the notes used in music notation, including the letters A through G, and that viola music is written in alto clef. Finally, it provides a visual of alto clef showing the strings and notes on the viola.

1. How to Play the Viola

2. Parts
• Before you start playing you have to know the
parts of the viola and what they do.

3. Upper and Lower Bout
Upper Bout- top part of the viola where the
fingerboard is attached
Lower Bout- lower part which is larger than
the top. It includes the chin rest, strings and
the tail piece.

4. Tailpiece and Chin Rest
Tailpiece- wooden black piece of wood near
the bottom of the viola. It has fine tuners on
it and is near the chin rest.
Chin rest- piece of wood attached to the
viola to help the positioning of the players
jaw while playing

5. Bridge and Fine Tuners
Bridge- where strings are on and helps to keep
you from playing two strings at once.
Fine tuners- are used to tune the viola. You turn
the little knobs slightly and it changes the
sound

6. Neck and Fingerboard
Fingerboard- long narrow piece of wood
where the strings lay.
Neck- upper part of the fingerboard.

7. Pegbox and F-Holes
Pegbox- have the pegs and hold the strings.
You can tighten or loosen the strings to
tune them.
F-Holes- in the middle of the instrument
and is shaped line an f in italics. This where
the sound comes out when you play

8. Notes
• Seven letters of the alphabet are used to
name notes in music
• A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H
• There whole, half, quarter, eighth….
• Using math is and easy way to calculate how
many notes are in a measure

9. Alto Clef
Symbol used for viola music. (Each instrument has it’s own)

10. Written notes
This is alto clef. It is showing the strings of the viola and where the notes are.
Use the chant FCGDAEB( fat cows go down and eat beans) for the lines and
GBDF( green birds do fly) for the spaces.